Practical theological considerations for a transformative theological education agenda in an African context

Abstract

ABSTRACT In light of the perceived slow pace of transformation of theological higher education since the fall of Apartheid in South Africa, this article approaches the issue from a practical theological paradigm with the aim of proposing an agenda for growth towards sustainable transformative practical theological education. At least three agenda points are identified in order to achieve this aim. It firstly accentuates the African identity of the South African context, then interrogates the notion of transformative education with a view on a workable definition for transformative theological education and thirdly attempts to contextualise the proposed definition within the framework of public practical theology. It concludes by recognising that theory and action regarding transformative theological education represents unchartered territory, which calls for the dedicated and ongoing attention of the practical theological community if the urgent challenges of theological higher education in the radically changed South African context are to be met.